What if...

The story keepers in Throne of Glass have to pay a price to receive their knowledge - like a bargain has been made. A gift to be given for the knowledge they receive.

So Emrys(at mistward) and Borte's grandmother (southern continent) both are story keepers who can look beyond their own memory to share knowledge. (Perhaps baba yellow legs too but she could just be super old) .

Perhaps they consult with someone who has the information they seek. Or someone who will tell them a tale of some "other time or place". Someone who is nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

Someone who steps through the fabric of the world(s) easily. And is torn and ripped at by the winds and turmoil involved in this type of time and dimension travel because it can't be easy, maybe the person stays the same but their garments are affected by their movements.

Maybe these storykeepers know what to offer and are just consulting with this person. This person who may or may not be the Suriel who takes their offerings for stories. Their new cloaks and clothes to warm them when his own are ripped away by the type of travel he does.

So the Suriel travels between worlds and all over time having access to themselves in many different forms. They know everything because they have been everywhere and at every time. They is really one person but multiple copies all experiencing different things at the same time. Somehow able to talk to all versions of himself. Becoming omnipresent throughout the dimensions and time and space.

Which also makes me think there might be another reason Alis knew what the suriel would really want? Is Alis a story keeper? Is she going to give us information in place of the suriel in later books? Or is she just a wise woman with common sense?